Beyond CultureBeyond Culture

Edward T. Hall, 1976Edward T. Hall, 1976

The importance of cultureThe importance of culture

“…denying culture and obscuring the effects that it can have on human talents can be as destructive and potentially dangerous as denying evil” (p.7)

“powerlessness and lack of self-affirmation lead to aggression…situational and cultural powerlessness are here and now” (p.6)

“we must stop ranking both people and talents and accept the fact that there are may roads to truth and no culture has a corner on the path” (p.7)

“…denying culture and obscuring the effects that it can have on human talents can be as destructive and potentially dangerous as denying evil” (p.7)

“powerlessness and lack of self-affirmation lead to aggression…situational and cultural powerlessness are here and now” (p.6)

“we must stop ranking both people and talents and accept the fact that there are may roads to truth and no culture has a corner on the path” (p.7)

The Paradox of CultureThe Paradox of Culture “the natural act of thinking is greatly modified by culture” (p.9) “monochronic and polychronic have to do with the way time and

space are organized and how this organization affects the very core of existence” (p.24)

“the natural act of thinking is greatly modified by culture” (p.9) “monochronic and polychronic have to do with the way time and

space are organized and how this organization affects the very core of existence” (p.24)

Monochronic time Polychronic time

Emphasizes schedules and promptness

Northern Europeans, Americans

“classification system that orders life…with the exception of birth and death, all important activities are scheduled” (p.19)

Led to industrialization

Stress involvement of people, completion of transactions

Latin America, Middle East

“in polychronic countries, one has to be an insider or else have a ‘friend’ who can make things happen”

Constant interaction with others

Man as ExtensionMan as Extension

“Extensions often permit man to solve problems…to evolve and adapt at great speed without changing the basic structure of his body” (p.29)

Extensions “enhance a particular function of the organism” (knife better at cutting than the teeth)

“All of culture is a complex system of extensions” (p.40) Schooling

Individuals are taught that natural learning has no value—only learning taught in a formal environment has validity

Language “nothing happens in the world of human beings that is not

deeply influenced by linguistic forms” (p.31) Black English (belittled in schools) Hopi and Christianity (linguistic forms too concrete)

“Extensions often permit man to solve problems…to evolve and adapt at great speed without changing the basic structure of his body” (p.29)

Extensions “enhance a particular function of the organism” (knife better at cutting than the teeth)

“All of culture is a complex system of extensions” (p.40) Schooling

Individuals are taught that natural learning has no value—only learning taught in a formal environment has validity

Language “nothing happens in the world of human beings that is not

deeply influenced by linguistic forms” (p.31) Black English (belittled in schools) Hopi and Christianity (linguistic forms too concrete)

Consistency and LifeConsistency and Life We have consistent predictable patterns in our lives. (small towns very

predictable behaviors)

We are all human, so it is our culture that gives us identity.

We must learn about other cultures because we interact with more people today than in the past.

Example: Japanese business men.

Today,man is placed in positions where culture can no longer be depended upon to produce reliable readings of what people are going to do next. But by being placed in these situations, we achieve greater awareness of our own systems.

Example: Understanding time

We need to transcend our own systems in order to prosper. We need to be aware that systems exist and of their nature.

Americans must be willing to make adjustments and build relationships with his hosts according to their schedules.

Example: Americans kept waiting…

To overcome control systems, we must experience a lifetime of the culture and experience the day to day realities. Another alternative is to take an intense cultural course that teaches the language and culture.

We have consistent predictable patterns in our lives. (small towns very predictable behaviors)

We are all human, so it is our culture that gives us identity.

We must learn about other cultures because we interact with more people today than in the past.

Example: Japanese business men.

Today,man is placed in positions where culture can no longer be depended upon to produce reliable readings of what people are going to do next. But by being placed in these situations, we achieve greater awareness of our own systems.

Example: Understanding time

We need to transcend our own systems in order to prosper. We need to be aware that systems exist and of their nature.

Americans must be willing to make adjustments and build relationships with his hosts according to their schedules.

Example: Americans kept waiting…

To overcome control systems, we must experience a lifetime of the culture and experience the day to day realities. Another alternative is to take an intense cultural course that teaches the language and culture.

Hidden CultureHidden Culture To really experience a culture, you must be more than a tourist.

Tourist are protected from the realities.

Business man staying in hotel experienced regular unannounced room changes.

Another hotel resort hands out okatas to help guest identify other guest.

Moved to entirely different hotel

Why: To have an identity in Japan, you must belong. As soon as you register at the desk, you are no longer an outsider. For the rest of your stay, you are a member of a large, mobile family.

Culture is individual based on experiences and habits.

To really experience a culture, you must be more than a tourist. Tourist are protected from the realities.

Business man staying in hotel experienced regular unannounced room changes.

Another hotel resort hands out okatas to help guest identify other guest.

Moved to entirely different hotel

Why: To have an identity in Japan, you must belong. As soon as you register at the desk, you are no longer an outsider. For the rest of your stay, you are a member of a large, mobile family.

Culture is individual based on experiences and habits.

Rhythm and Body Movement

Rhythm and Body Movement

Through research of film clips, man has been found to be in sync with each other.

Syncing appears to be innate, babies have same patterns, but once we learn patterns specific to our culture, we don't use the patterns of others.

Each culture has its own characteristic manner of locomotion, sitting, standing, reclining, and gesturing.

Examples of in sync behaviors: working songs of the blacks to synchronize physical labor

Rhythms of life…. night and day, lunar, seasonal, annual, shorter cycles and rhythms of breathing rate, heart beat, hunger …. Synchrony can be an indicator to how things are going (good or bad)

Body languages not universal.. Nonverbal communications must be read in context and are closely tied to ethnicity.

Through research of film clips, man has been found to be in sync with each other.

Syncing appears to be innate, babies have same patterns, but once we learn patterns specific to our culture, we don't use the patterns of others.

Each culture has its own characteristic manner of locomotion, sitting, standing, reclining, and gesturing.

Examples of in sync behaviors: working songs of the blacks to synchronize physical labor

Rhythms of life…. night and day, lunar, seasonal, annual, shorter cycles and rhythms of breathing rate, heart beat, hunger …. Synchrony can be an indicator to how things are going (good or bad)

Body languages not universal.. Nonverbal communications must be read in context and are closely tied to ethnicity.

Context and MeaningContext and Meaning

As one moves from low context to the high contest side of the scale, awareness of the selective process increases. This can be seen in language and culture.

As one moves from low context to the high contest side of the scale, awareness of the selective process increases. This can be seen in language and culture.

In the context at least five sets of disparate categories of events must be taken into account. They are: the subject or activity, the situation, one’s situation in a social system, past experience and culture.

Subject or topic one is engaged in has a great deal to do with what one does or does not attend.

In the context at least five sets of disparate categories of events must be taken into account. They are: the subject or activity, the situation, one’s situation in a social system, past experience and culture.

Subject or topic one is engaged in has a great deal to do with what one does or does not attend.

What one perceives is what one intends to do about it. E.g. teachers and students on subject matters.

The “situation” determines also what one takes in and leave out. E.g. court and work place.

People at the top pay attention to different things from those at the middle or bottom of the system.

What one perceives is what one intends to do about it. E.g. teachers and students on subject matters.

The “situation” determines also what one takes in and leave out. E.g. court and work place.

People at the top pay attention to different things from those at the middle or bottom of the system.

Contexting is an important way of handling the very great human transactions so that the system does not bog down in information overload.

A high context (HC) communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit, transmitted part of the message. Low context ( LC) is the opposite. E.g. twins and two lawyers.

Contexting is an important way of handling the very great human transactions so that the system does not bog down in information overload.

A high context (HC) communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit, transmitted part of the message. Low context ( LC) is the opposite. E.g. twins and two lawyers.

American culture is on the end of LC while Chinese culture is near the other end.

The level of context determines everything about the name of the communication and is the foundation of which all subsequent behavior rests (including symbolic behavior).

HC actions are by definition rooted in the past, slow to change, and highly stable.

In LC culture one needs to be aware of the context for screening.

American culture is on the end of LC while Chinese culture is near the other end.

The level of context determines everything about the name of the communication and is the foundation of which all subsequent behavior rests (including symbolic behavior).

HC actions are by definition rooted in the past, slow to change, and highly stable.

In LC culture one needs to be aware of the context for screening.

Context, High and LowContext, High and Low

It is possible to grow up and mature in a culture with little or no knowledge of the basic laws that make it work and differentiate it from all other cultures.

Any of the basic cultural system and subsystems can serve as a focus for observation.

It is possible to grow up and mature in a culture with little or no knowledge of the basic laws that make it work and differentiate it from all other cultures.

Any of the basic cultural system and subsystems can serve as a focus for observation.

In American law system, according to the opinion rule, only established facts, stripped of all contexting background data are admissible as evidence. “Answer the question yes or no.”

The French as a rule are much more involved with their employees and with their customers and clients as well.

In American law system, according to the opinion rule, only established facts, stripped of all contexting background data are admissible as evidence. “Answer the question yes or no.”

The French as a rule are much more involved with their employees and with their customers and clients as well.

Very high context systems, by definition, take much more into account, and this has the effect of putting the accused, the court, the public and those who are the injured parties on the same side, where, ideally, they can work together to settle things.

Very high context systems, by definition, take much more into account, and this has the effect of putting the accused, the court, the public and those who are the injured parties on the same side, where, ideally, they can work together to settle things.

It is very seldom in Japan that someone will correct you or explain things to you. You are supposed to know, and they get quite upset when you don’t.

One has to be properly contexted to correctly interpret everyday customs.

It is very seldom in Japan that someone will correct you or explain things to you. You are supposed to know, and they get quite upset when you don’t.

One has to be properly contexted to correctly interpret everyday customs.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Hall says that ‘real learning’ doesn't happen only in schools. What is your opinion?

Why is cultural literacy important in schools?

What is your understanding of the differences of time concepts between cultures?

Can you share any addition hidden actions within a culture?

Can you give an example of body language or gesturing that has different meanings in different cultures?

Hall says that ‘real learning’ doesn't happen only in schools. What is your opinion?

Why is cultural literacy important in schools?

What is your understanding of the differences of time concepts between cultures?

Can you share any addition hidden actions within a culture?

Can you give an example of body language or gesturing that has different meanings in different cultures?